TRANSCRIPTS OF LETTERS SENT BY MARY NEATE FROM ENGLAND
TO HER SON
CHARLES JOHN HUMPHRIES NEATE IN NEW ZEALAND
AND MARY STEPHANA NEATE AND FRANK HEANLY

Susan Walter contacted me from Australia as follows:

"My
husband's great-great grandmother Mary Neate
was living in Swan Street Kingsclere at the time
of the
1881 census with her spinster daughter Mary Stephana
Neate and her married daughter Anna Maria Heanly
and her husband and family. The Tombstone transcriptions
list Mary Neate's death in 1885 along with a mention
of her husband Stephen who was interred at Mortaise
in France in 1855.Unfortunately Mortiase does not
exist
and we have yet to locate where exactly Stephen
died and why he was in France in the first place.
A pity
the headstone no longer exists as we would love
to have another look at the word "Mortaise" to
see if it was misread. Another Neate Headstone
at Kingsclere is for Stephen Richmond Neate (1884)
and his wife Helen
(nee Drake) (1883) formerly of Hong Kong. This
is another child of Stephen and Mary Neate.Stephen
and Mary's
youngest surviving child, Charles John Humphries
Neate immigrated to New Zealand in 1875 with his
new wife,
had 6 children in New Zealand and then moved on
to Victoria Australia. At the time of the birth
of his
first son, Percy, in 1878, Mary Neate and Mary
Stephana Neate were writing letters to Charles
from Kingsclere,
of which some survive and are in our possession.
Mary Stephana was learning to play the new organ
in the
church (St Mary's) and was also a teacher. The
letters contain the names of various other residents
of Kingsclere.

If
transcripts of these letters would be of any
interest to you please let us know. The original
handwriting
is hard to read as the paper was written on twice,
once in normal fashion and then secondly at 90
degrees to the first writing, but we have trancribed
them to
our best ability some 120+ years down the track."

Susan
kindly sent me the transcripts which are reproduced
here ( using cut & paste) together with
her notes (in italics) after each letter.

40 Bussell Street
Febry 25th 1878

My
dear Charley & Eva

I begin my letter by wishing you both a happy new
year. We are very anxious to get a letter from you
to tell us some good news I do sincerely hope all has
gone on well you have my good wishes. I fear you must
think me very negligent not to have written before,
in Oct. I went to Anvilles to get Arthurs house in
order then I went on to Bishopstone stayed a fortnight
there on to Mrs Hammons ten days as I had to come thro
Reading on my way I came here to see aunt Frank and
I have been here ever since last June. Aunt had a letter
from Mr Meeks to say she was not able to manage her
own affairs.
In Decr notice was sent that two Lunacy Commissioners
would come down to the Great Western Hotel & hold
a meeting before they assembled they both came here
to see aunt and asked her a few questions she answered
foolishly Maurice & May took their certificates.
Mr Meeks wrote to say he was coming before xmas. We
have waited ever since to hear their decision. The
suspense I expect will make her mad. Soon after the
Johnsons returned from America. Last week Martha came
up as Mr Meeks was too ill he is gone to Torquay for
two months and on Friday Mrs J wrote to say Mr Meeks
wishes hers & Mr J to be with aunt while he is
away. Kind Mrs White who has been here ever since March
had notice to leave in a month. I only hope aunt will
worry them as much as she has us. This house is to
be advertised to be sold, & Mr Meeks will not give
any more rent so there will be another alteration in
June. Jany 3 aunt took up the Devizes papers read Charles
Bayly of Baths death. It was a week afterwards no one
was .written to nor any cards sent, it was a great
shock to aunt Bayly he died by her side in bed. She
keeps upstairs in her drawing room.
Sad news will have to be sent to Stephen & Helen
in Hong Kong. Mr J Drake died on Friday after only
a few days illness. Do you know Stephen has built a
house and they went into it in September. I heard from
Helen she had not been well, liver out of order. Stephen
was well he had so many presents at Christmas joints
of mutton & beef 6 hams 13 fowls 2 geese oranges
potted meats & preserved fruits a wash stand set
of ware tea sherry 2 doz a silk umbrella 20 yards of
light brushed silk a dress for Helen given them by
those Stephen is over, it shows how much he is respected.
Do you know Mr Edmond ??? Corser New Brighton Christchurch.
The new vicar that is at Bishopstone is related to
him, he sent them a photo of a new church built since
he went out there. How are the Stockers. Do you know
the remedy for sore throat a lump of salt put into
a bit of muslin or linen just wetted & push on.
Have you sold your house in Ceylon. I want to know
how busines is getting on & if you have been successful.
Emily Toms intends coming home in the spring. I have
had only one letter from her since she went out. She
seems disgusted - not to have more ??? society. How
are your knees. Frank Rowland is at Shrivenham. Dr
Parker professed to cure rheumatism by fireing with
a hot iron the knee. Mary Benjamin had a very severe
illness in the autumn inflamation of the lung & pleuresy.
She is still only allowed to go out when very fine.
Dr She ??? went down from Reading he considers her
very delicate. I believe they sent for the Johnsons
to return & are going to undertake the responsibility
of Aunt to have a home as Martha said whoever was here
was to come from a pure motive of kindness. They want
a home I am got quite tired of it I think aunt gets
worse. She does not sit still two minutes unless she
has work. She sleeps badly wakes early & no rest
for Annie who sleeps in her room. I think she has taken
a dislike to me because I will speak & have plenty
to eat. Aunt Toms has been very poorly Uncle went up
to Hungerford he is agent for some wine company fortunately
he did not go to see Arthur or to Kingsclere.
The new organ is part up Mary will have enough to do
now. The Carter Holdings are come to Elm Grove they
are all musical and disposed to be friendly with us.
I do hope soon to hear from you on the 20th a mail
is due. I am anxious to go home as Anna is expecting
another baby this month, I hope it will be a girl.
Hoping you are both well. With kindest love, Believe
me dear Charley & Eva

Your Affecte
Mother

Aunt.Frank’s kindest love to you & she hope
the little stranger is arrived. Who is it like. & was
she born on time.

Letter dated 25/2/1878:

I assume Bussell St is in Kingsclere. Can you confirm
this? (I think this is in fact Russell Street in
Reading, due to the mention of the Great Western
Hotel within the letter, other readers comments welcome-Ed)
Charley is C.J.H. Neate, Eva is his wife Evaline (nee
Jaques)
Arthur is another of Mary’s sons; Arthur Webb
Neate
Aunt Frank is Ann Neate (nee Maskell) widow of Mary’s
brother Francis Webb Neate
Mr Meeks is Alex Meeks a family friend and solicitor
who seemed to be involved in most legal family documents
(wills etc.)
The Johnsons refers to a married niece of Mary’s
via, her brother Stephen Richmond Neate.
I think Mrs White is the married sister of Stephen
Richmond Neate’s (above) second wife
Charles Bayly is the husband of Mary’s sister,
Stephana Bayly (nee Neate).
Stephen and Helen are Mary’s son Stephen Richmond
Neate and his wife Helen nee Drake (from Kingsclere
we believe).
Emily Toms is the daughter of Mary’s late husband’s
sister, Johanna Toms (nee Neate). Emily later married
Mary’s son Francis William Neate.
Frank Rowland is the son of Mary’s sister Rachel
Rowland (nee Neate)
Mary Benjamin is another daughter of Mary’s brother
Stephen Richmond Neate
Mary (in reference to the organ) is Mary’s unmarried
daughter Mary Stephana Neate who lived with her mother
ca 1878-81
Anna is Anna Maria Heanly (nee Neate) another of Mary’s
daughters who married Frank E. J. Heanly and lived
at Kingsclere also.

Kingsclere February 26th 1878

My
dear Charley & Eva,

I
hope by this time there has been an arrival & that
all has gone well. We shall soon begin to look out
for tidings & I hope they will be good ones. Miss
Barnes asked me the other day if we had heard as she
is most interested, of course you had a paper from
Arthur announcing his marriage on Sepr 29th. I fear
I have not written to you since then and yet I am sure
I must have done so, however in case I have not I will
say a little about it, I went & am glad I did though
I was only asked a few days before. Dick, Alfred, Walter & Albert
her brothers were there. C V Steven’s was best
man Emily Taylor & “Little Mary” were
the bridesmaids they wore white with blue trimmings & Arthur
gave them silver lockets, Ellen wore a fawn coloured
silk & white bonnet. They went to Hastings for
a few days then back to town for a few more & while
there A took “his Bride” to spend a day
with the Hulberts at Watford by invitation. Mama went
to Anvilles to put it a little in order to receive
them, she spent a little time there as Arthur was very
busy with sales and thought Ellen would find it dull
and then went on to stay at Bishopstone & Garford & has
since been at Reading. A & E called to see Aunt
Frank on their way home and she gave them the drawing
room clock they had a nice bundle of other presents.
I went to stay with them just after xmas and accompanied
them and Walter to a very pleasant dance at the Hungerford
Corn Exchange. A waltzes very nicely can you fancy
it. My next visit was to Miss Brooks. She & her
mother live at “......... Villas” which
no doubt you remember hearing was going to be built.
It is a very comfortable little house. Katie ?????
spent an evening there, both she and Annie asked for
you, The latter is going to be married soon to a Brewer
named Foster aged 36 but remarkably stout living at
Berkhamsted where they went last year as her younger
brother was there for a few months as lay reader. While
at Marston I & Annie walked over to Cricklade,
our old house is a private Lunatic Asylum in a small
way, I called on Mr Brooks the doctor & Miss Rew?
where I used to go to school. My next visit was to
Bishopstone, while there we had the concert followed
by a dance in the village school room & a dance
in honour of Arthur Dore’s coming of age, when
about 40 assembled we went to a very nice concert at
Shrivenham, when several titled people performed amongst
others the Honrble A Yorke now in attendance on Prince
Leopold. Mrs Dore was not at all well when I was there
but when I went down a fortnight afterwards for the
Bachelors Ball at Swindon she was much better. Arthur
Bayly the ??????? was one of the Bachelors & he
invited me when he was at A Dore’s party, Willie
Dore said he would give me my ticket but when he found
there were none to be sold he went in with the others
in sharing the expenses, 193 invitations were accepted & we
spent a very pleasant night from 8 till 6 the next
morning, I went to Mr Alfred Plummers at Swindon & the
Bishoptone party joined me there, after going hunting
the next day I went home with them & back home
the next day. I wore my old white silk done up with
coral coloured Tarlatan & bunches of dark ivy leaves,
silver oak leaves & coral. Mary Bennett that W.
Dore used to be engaged to was there, they had one
dance together but I thought that a gentleman who came
up with her & her sister & brother from Herefordshire
was very attentive to her. She looked very well in
a cream coloured silk, the prettiest dress there was
a pale pink silk trimmed with swans down. During my
holidays I also spent a few days with Joan & James
Hammans, the latter has a bad knee something like yours
used to be. Also I spent a day on my lot at Reading,
Aunt was better while I was there as she always is
when anybody else is present, but she is at times most
provoking. It is quite amusing as well as annoying
to find how Mr Benjamin & Martha Johnson have succeeded
in their little plot which they evidently made, in
a letter from Martha last Autumn to Mary & which
she sent for us to read were the words “What
will be my responsibility if I have the care of Aunt
Frank” so it was evident Mary had said something
about their coming home & going to Reading as in
the letter before that they said they had decided to
stay the 2 years so as to get Mr J’s official
papers signed, and they did not come when Mary was
ill but waited till some weeks afterwards. Martha says
a relation is not to be paid but I should say if she
is placed there & allowed to have Mr J living there
too that is equal to one being paid as if she does
not get it in money she does in board & lodgings
for him & what they want is a house not money.
Aunt wrote to say she wished Ma to be appointed and
Ma wrote to say she wished to be, neither of which
letters Mr Meek took any notice of, so no doubt Mary
asked him to wait for Martha’s return as before
deciding anything. Mr Maurice’s wife I think
you know ran away with a Mr Pain & then left him
and went off with another man. Mr M has just got divorced
from her I mean the doctor at Reading. Annie Booker
has the drawing she did from the one you borrowed for
her hanging up and says she promised you she would
never give it away, she has done some more pictures
but a different style, the Holy Family & a head
of our Saviour. She had been to see the ship & had
packed one lot towards going back to Africa with Mr
Jackson when Mr Foster asked her to remain in England.
Poor Mr John Drake was buried today, he died last Friday,
he was out walking the Saturday before, he has had
a cold & cough ever since Xmas but at the last
it seemed like fading away more than any illness, he
sat up to supper & walked up to bed at 9 o’ clock & died
very quietly at 3 o’ clock. Charlotte was with
him at the time as Mary Anne was going to lie down
Fred Emma & Jabez were sleeping at the Brewery
they had no idea he was so near his end. F Heanly attended
the funeral & made a cross of snowdrops & violets
for Helen he also made up one of some flowers Lavinia
wished sent she could not come as her pupils have had
scarlet fever. Poor Nellie it will be sad news for
her but she will be partly prepared for it as they
have written to say he was very ill. Charlotte will
feel it most having lived with him most. Gussie Deane
lost her 5th baby in Decr about 3 months old and Uncle
Bayly died almost suddenly early in February, they
did not write to Ma or Aunt Frank for ???? of alarming
the latter but left her to find it out from the paper!!.
The organ was opened on Sunday 17th & we like it
very much its cost is nearly £200 Mr Barnes was
very pleased that my brothers all contributed towards
it tell Mr Stocker about it, it has 492 pipes 10 stops
with room to add 6 more a swell 3 combination pedals
by using which one can make it soft louder or very
loud according to which is pressed down 2 octaves of
wooden pedals which I am going to get some lessons
from Mr Godding of Newbury on, I shared the duty with
the Builder (Mr Smith) from Bevingtons the first Sunday & last
Sunday had it all to do myself. I get on better than
I expected but of course I have to practise as much
as I can. I go for an hour or two every evening that
I can it is really a pleasure to play it after the
other old thing, & I long to be able to manage
the pedals properly as they give it more bass & make
it sound so much fuller. Miss Barnes nearly lived in
the Church the week it was being built & the Vicar
spent a good deal of time there they were so interested
in the “Organization of it” Mr Barnes’ pun.
I have been scribbling on & now find it is just
post time so I hope there are no mistakes as I have
not time to read it through. Anna & Frank join
me in kindest love to you both & hoping very soon
to hear good news of & from you.

In reference to Arthur’s
wedding (Arthur Webb Neate), Ellen is his new wife,
nee Whistler
(I believe
there were other Whistlers buried at Kingsclere)
Gussie Deane is Sarah August Toms (Mary’s husband’s
niece) who married Henry Augustus Dean in 1871
MS Neate is Mary Stephan Neate, (as above)

Kingsclere
March 26th 1878

My dear Charley
I was very pleased to receive your letter & must
congratulate you on being Papa also do offer Eva my
best wishes for her recovery and that her dear baby
may grow to be a comfort to you both. I expect you
will indeed be proud of him. I am sure your anxiety
must have been very great and much cause for alarm.
We are hoping soon to have a good account & that
Eva is getting strong. I am delighted to tell you that
dear Anna had a daughter at 10 to 10 Sunday night & both
are going on extremely well baby is a contented plump
little dear & promises to thrive. Anna sends her
love to you both and hopes all will go on well with
Eva & baby. I am sorry to say Frank H is very poorly
indeed a very violent cold & a bad cough I fear
a slight attack of bronchitis he has had five linseed
poultices on his chest with mustard. He is to have
a constant fire in his room. He has Mary’s room & we
go into his room. The children have all been very poorly
with colds & bad coughs.
We have plenty to do at present the children are very
good they are to see their little sister this evening.
Sunday & yesterday we have had snow showers it
is very cold, the trees were forward in leaf, this
will check them.
Old Collins has been very ill, bronchitis and delirious
at times, he asked for you and desired his respects
when I wrote he was better the last account four old
people ill with bronchitis now. Mrs Benjamin went to
40 B S and she took Aunt into Castle St in lodgings
for a week as they were obliged to leave the house
the well of the W.C. overflowed. Aunt was quite sorry
to return home, the change has done Mary B good, she
remains there until Mr & Mrs Johnson go & take
up their abode. They seem to be doing just as they
like. I trust you continue well and business is flourishing.

We
were very glad indeed to hear of the arrival of your
little son but very sorry that Eva was so very
ill. We are anxiously looking out for your next letter & hope
it will bring much better news of Eva. Please congratulate
her on being a mother & accept my best wishes for
the future of your son & heir. I had an announcement
put into the Devizes paper as I thought many of Eva’s
old friends would see it who might not otherwise know
of the arrival. I send you a paper by this mail thinking
you may like to keep it and also going to send Stephen & Frank
each one and asked Mary Benjamin to send hers to Mrs
Jaques as I dont know her address. I enclose a letter
and the “Bill of Lading” from Arthur, it
was very remiss of him not to have sent it last Autumn,
but I suppose the omission is excusable under the circumstances.
I hope you got the things at last but it was very tiresome
not to have had them by the time you wanted them. Wilfred
did not seem jealous of his little sister when he saw
her, I dont know how it will be when he sees Anna nursing
her. He says “I am not the baby now” he
is a regular boy & often tries to be master over
his brothers in their games that he quite enters into
with them.
Mr John Drake died about a month ago. Charlotte is
still going to live here and keep on her school. He
was ailing for some little time a sort of break up,
but he did not keep his bed a day & was out walking
a few days before he died. Stephen & Helen tell
us they expect an arrival in July, they have sent for
Mrs Hollick to send out lots of things. I hope you
will tell us what name you give your little boy, who
he is like & who you choose for sponsors. Frank & Anna’s
daughter was born on Mamas birthday. Cyril & Percy
send their love & they would like to see their
little cousin. Charlotte’s love & is glad
you have a son & hopes to hear a better account
of Eva soon. I am delighted with the new organ & spend
hours practising on it & am glad to be able to
say I get on better than I expected though can’t
play much with my feet yet. With kindest love to you
both & hope Eva will be quite strong again before
you get this.

I am dear Charley your Affecte sister
Mary.

Letter dated 26th March from Mary Stephana Neate (sister)

Stephen and Frank are her brothers Stephen R Neate and Francis William Neate
Mrs Jaques would be Ann Jaques, mother of Evaline who married Charles J .H. Neate
Wilfred is Wilfred Neate Heanly, son of Anna and Frank, as are Cyril and Percy

Kingsclere, June 17th 1878

My dear Charley,

I
was so very glad to hear such an improved account
of Eva & hope we shall hear that after she began
getting about she steadily gained strength & is
now quite well. Also that Percival Jaques is flourishing.
What made you choose his first name. Mary Benjamin
sent us a letter from Addie Jaques to read in which
she said she was to be Godmother, who are the Godfathers
to him & was he christened & did Mr Stocker
baptize him. I was very glad you got all the things
safely at last it was very tiresome indeed that you
hadn’t them sooner also very glad you liked the
things & that the hooded cape and shoes suit the
baby’s “style of beauty”. Very many
thanks for sending the stones, I have not asked the
jeweller yet, but I am almost afraid neither piece
will be large enough to cut into a triangle the size
of the two stones already in the ring. What do you
think of Franks choice. We were very much surprised
as we had heard something about a Mr Rolls, who when
in England some time ago went to see the Dean’s
with a letter of introduction from Tommy. It is odd
after all her chances that she should choose to settle
down quitely in Ceylon which she has always said she
disliked but she seems very happy indeed at the prospect & Uncle & Aunt
are also very pleased at the match, first cousins are
very near, but they are the only ones likely to worry
so I daresay the family won’t become quite like
some of the Browns, the only thing I fear is the Toms
propensity for spending money but be sure you don’t
allude to my having said so when you write back. I
expect if you want to write to him you had better direct
or enclose it to us as if he comes in 4 months time
from the date of his letter April 30th he will be in
England in September. I send you a paper with SYN’s
announcement, is it not carefully worded, when we heard
Mrs MacKinlay had obtained her divorce I remarked a
chance for SYN. now, she had to go to Texas to get
it, and as they were married at Niagara I suppose he
went to meet her, he wrote for his sisters opinion,
but I think did not intend to let it bias him as the
paper was the next intimation they had of the event.
I am going to break up this week & start off on
my round of visits. I think I am going to see Arthur
Dore’s, Hammans, Aunt Frank in her new home and
a Miss Baldwin whom I met at the Dores & who lives
near Bath.
It is post time so I must only add kindest
love to you both & kisses to my nephew
from your
very afftce sister Mary.

Letter dated 17th June 1878 from Mary S Neate (sister)

“Percival Jaques” is
Percival Jaques Neate, first child of Charles and
Evaline
Addie Jaques is Evaline’s sister
Frank (re Franks choice) is Mary’s brother
Francis William
“
The Browns” are a related family from around
Aldbourne WIL, much intertwined with the Neates.
SYN is Stephen Young Neate, son of Mary’s uncle
Stephen Richmond Neate

Kingsclere
June 18th 1878

My dear Charley & Eva
I was very pleased to have your second letter to give
us a better account of Eva. You must have had great
anxiety. I am glad to hear your bonny boy is progressing
nicely. We are again looking for a letter. We have
had many losses in our family the last few years still
the name of Neate bids ...... to continue here and
to be transported into other quarters of the globe.
We are expecting soon to have news from China. I hope
theirs will be a son. I send you the marriage of SY
Neate he seems determined to have a Dudley. Martha & Mary
first intimation was the paper. They do not approve
of divorcee people but feel some family will keep him
happy and a good wife. She had more influence over
him than any one else. He left off whisky after his
last illness and they hope and pray this is the turning
point in his life.
Now I must tell you that Mr Meek has appointed Mr & Mrs
Johnson to take charge of Aunt Frank & said certainly
not take another house in Reading so they have decided
on one at Keynesham 4 1/2 miles from Bristol. They
have taken it on their own responsibility in the village
low windows small garden & little greenhouse we
invited aunt to come and see us but on Saturday I had
a letter from her saying she could not come so I went
up to Reading with Anna & baby to see her. When
we got there Arthur and his wife had come up. Mr Meeks
could not find the inventory Arthur made so Mr J wished
him to make another so they were very busy. Today Mr
J and Mary Benjamin take her by train in a first class
carriage to stay a few days at Devizes at Mr B’s.
The plate is to go as her luggage. Mr J returns this
evening to help Martha pack and the furniture goes
in two vans on Friday. “Kill or cure I think”.
Mr W Bavant & Arthur are to manage her money and
of course Mr & Mrs Johnson are only delighted to
get a home & furniture. Martha told me I was the
only one that objected to their arrangement. She asked
me to go to see them & I said I did not know. I
feel it is a cruel thing to break up her home and for
her to be under them at her age. I should not be surprised
what may happen to her, she still threatens destruction.
Now I must tell you how very much surprised I was to
have a letter from Frank from Ceylon in May saying “Emily
Toms left for England by the Sultan on the 25th of
April. I am sure you will be surprised and I hope glad
to hear that I am engaged to her. I intend coming home
for her in about four months time to be married”.
Of course Mr & Mrs Toms are delighted, I am glad
he has chosen a favourite of mine tho’ he might
have done better. The deEsteres have not behaved well
to either of them they say. I have heard from Aunt
Toms they are in Birmgham at present but are moving.
Emily says Mrs Dean is to decide on a house - I suppose
suitable for the event to take place. Dear Franks visit
to us will be very short I fear. Emily will come here
I expect at the same time.
I am glad to give a good account of Frank & Anna & the
children, Mildred Mary is a fat dear little child,
very lively, sleeps for three hours at a time, a great
pet with us all. In April old Dr Humble died at Ramsgate,
now this house comes to the first Mrs Humbles nieces.
Mr Barnes of Winchester married one of the Miss Bishops,
he has written to me today. He intends coming to see
the property, I have not had much done, since I have
been here 10 years - I have very heavy expenses.
The weather is thundery with heavy rain & the farmers
complain sadly about the hay & corn being injured
by so much wet it will make every thing dearer.
I saw old Collins last evening he is tolerable. I never
see him but he asks for you, and he always says give
my respects to him. Arthur got me a mowing machine
it cost £6 but I got it for 5 shillings Wallace
has repaired it & it makes the grass look very
nice when mown it requires two to use it. I have had
a man to do up the garden very few gooseberries the
marrows will not be like they were when you attended
to them. I expect your garden is perfection I hope
business goes on satisfactorily & that you enjoy
good health and getting rich.
Only a few changes in Kingsclere. The house Mr Taplin
lives in is to be sold it is doubtful about their remaining.
Mr Carter Holding is come to live at the Grove he is
chosen church warden with Mr Edwards. Mr H wants to
leavel the graves. Mr Barnes does not approve of it.
William Holding the nephew is a magistrel (sic) they
cut quite a dash
Frank Heanly came upstairs while I was writing to ask
if he may write a few lines to you so I was obliged
to take half a sheet to finish my letter. The new organ
is an impressive one. Mary has to go to the church
to practice & school rooms twice a week so she
has her time fully taken up, 22 pupils also to teach
at home. The racehorses here have been fortunate. Mr
Porter has been so kind as to give flowers & ......
to the church decorations Frank & Anna do the crosses,
with a few more to help - he made a dove with white
pinks and white stocks it was much admired, a nice
idea. We are in a bustle having two woman (sic) to
clean the house. F & A and children are gone for
a walk. The Edwards are well also the Barne’s
the Drakes are coming to pay Edward a visit next week
the (sic) live at Winchester. Charlotte is well I am
sure I must name her kindly to you. She still has her
school & lives in the same house.
With our united kind love to you both & hoping
to hear soon, Believe me

Ever your affectate

Mother

This half page is written across the last page of
the last letter

My dear Charlie
Only time to add our love to your wife & yourself;
I am (& so is Anna) very glad you chose an uncommon
name for your boy one not already in the family; it
is so much more sensible in my opinion to have different
names - I am very sorry to say I have not yet got any
employment if you hear of anything suitable let me
know & we will struggle to come out to you. I have
answered advts till I am sick. Anna would write but
is engaged with Mildred. She is such a pet, the boys
grow very fast & are sometimes rather mischevious.
We are going to take them out for a run so I must wind
up - believe me
very truely yours
Frank E J Heanly

since you appreciated our poor little presents you
shall have some more the next opportunity

Letter dated 18th June 1878 from Mary (mother)

Stephen Y Neate married Fanny Alice Dudley in 1878,
Martha and Mary are his sisters Martha Johnson and
Mary Benjamin
Mildred Mary is the daughter of Anna & Frank
Heanly born 1878

Boscobel
Wooben Green
Bucks
27th May 1915

My dear Mabel

I
am so very sorry I have been so long answering your
last letter, written 11 months ago, but you know what
it is if one begins putting off things, & when
it came I was so very glad to hear you had gone to
live with your aunt & uncle that I meant to write
at once, & say so for I think it such a nice arrangement, & hope
you continue all round to like it, I think it is quite
the next best thing to having a house of your own.
Mildred did not get home till March 8th. We were very
anxious while she was on the sea, & very thankful
she reached here safely, they had a few excitements,
but no mishaps, life belts were served out all round
at Malta, & port holes kept darkened at night from
there, & cruisers escorted them up the Channel & to
the mouth of the Thames, & now so many boats have
been torpedoed we feel we cannot be thankful enough.
Mildred brought home such a number of paintings she
did of some of the grand views in the Himalayas, they
were I think about 7000 feet high at Lebong, where
they were for over a year, till Mr Spooner, brother
of the friend M went with, was moved to Darjeeling,
quite near but considerably higher & then down
to Dinapore (now Dinajpur) on a branch of the Ganges,
he being the Army Chaplain got moved when the Regiment
came home to go to the Front, where so many of the
officers they knew so well have been killed or wounded.
M also did a number of Pastel Portraits amongst others
the Maharajah of Cooch Behar & his wife (who was
Baroda & educated in England & a very pretty & charming
woman) his brother Prince Victor, & a cousin; she
also painted a lot of scenery for they (sic) plays
they got up at the club, & helped act in 1 or 2,
so she did not have an idle time, & earned some
money. I was not so well as usual last winter, had
a tiresome cough, & shortness of breath, but was
not really bad till a few days after M got home, them
I had to give up & have breakfast in bed, & be
very lazy, & between 2 & 3 weeks ago I woke
early one morning feeling I could not breathe, M put
mustard on front & back, & after coughing & gasping
for some time I was able to relieve my chest, & felt
better, but it was very exhausting, the Dr says it
was not Bronchitis, but pressure on the bronchial nerve,
I still get little reminders sometimes but hot cloths
on the throat loosen the cough & give relief, I
have been under a London Dr’s treatment for 2
or 3 years, & dont much expect ever to be really
well & strong again at my age 72 last September,
I am so thankful I did not break down till after M’s
return, now she is doing everything she possibly can
for me, my appetite is bad, but I am taking a strong
tonic & hope soon to be some what better, & to
be able to write and tell you so. I do not remember
the name of Mr George at Kingsclere, what was he there?
I am sure we never knew anybody of that name, to visit
I mean. I am very sorry your eyes were troubling you,
but hope you had an occulists opinion about them & that
glasses have given you relief. Is not the war truly
dreadful, Percy Heanly has joined for “Home Defence”,
Wilfreds elder boy is a sailor helping in coaling the
Navy, Richmond Phelps is on the “Ajax” somewhere
in the North Sea & several other relatives & friends
have joined. George Neate of Newbury I believe went
from Canada to Melbourne & thought of joining the
Army Medical Corps, if he did go to M. he probably
went to the Whistlers relatives of his mother living
there, meant to tell you before. I hope all your belongings
are as well as when you wrote also the Jaques, thank
you for the nice illustrated paper you kindly sent
me for Xmas. I did not send to anybody this last Xmas.
Very glad you liked M’s tiny likenesses. She
joins me in love to you & your aunt & please
tell her I had a letter from Mrs Dicksee not long ago,
asking me to go to see her this summer, but I fear
I shall not be well enough to pay many visits, your
Uncle Frank & his wife want me to go to them near
Bournemouth, but I cannot arrange any visits just yet.

Hoping to hear from you soon your loving Auntie Mary.
I am so sorry your Aunt Addie & I have not written
to each other for so long, trust they are both well.

Mildred is Mildred Heanly, she was an artist as an
adult.
Richmond Phelps is Aubery Richmond Phelps, son of Emma
Benjamin (daughter of Mary Benjamin nee Neate)
George Neate of Newbury is George Whistler Neate, son
of Arthur Webb Neate and Ellen Whistler
Uncle Frank is Francis William Neate and (?) his second
wife Ada
Addie is Adeline Jaques